The Lazy Girl's Guide To Homemade Applesauce

Ok, so I have to admit that the title of this post is a bit deceiving in the sense that it's not 100% no work at all.  However, this method of making applesauce is the easiest I have found and it's the way I have been making it for years. A lot easier than this method....

Look familiar to any of you?  It sure does to me.  That's the way my mom made it, my Grandma, and even my Great-Grandma. I'm sure those before her even did it this way, but to be completely honest, I hate it!   It's messy, it's sticky and it takes FOR-EV-ER!!!!

So, I started doing it this way and it works for me.  Maybe it can for you too. 

All that you need is the following:

A bunch of apples (as many as you'd like)

An apple corer/ peeler

A crockpot

Spices of your choice

If you are wondering what I mean by an apple corer/peeler thing, it's one of these-

Sorry, but I'm not sure of its technical name.  However, it is my all time favorite gadget when doing anything with apples because it cores, peels and slices the apples all at once. LOVE IT!

Start by washing your apples and then use your nifty apple gadget to get your apples peeled and sliced. You will need to cut the apples into smaller sections or else you will just end up with apple rings.

I usually section my apple I to quarters but half would be fine as well. Store them in a sink full of cold water to prevent from browning while you finish slicing all of the apples.

You will also want to cut off the tops and bottoms of the apples where the skins don't get peeled off. 

Once you get all of your apples sliced and chopped, place the apples into a crock pot on low heat. You will need to keep the lid on it and avoid lifting the lid for at least 4-5 hours.

I had so many apples that I started out needing two crock pots.  I think I had about 15 lbs of apples and had to use my large and medium sized crock pots. 

This is the easy part.   You don't have to do anything!!!  Let your apples cook on low for 6-8 hours and go about your day.  

After about 4 hours the apples will start to look like this:

And your house will start to smell heavenly!

At this point I grab a potato masher and smash the big chunks of apples to help them break down a little more quickly. 6 or 7 smashes is usually good enough.  I can usually combine my two batches into one just to get the other crock pot off my countertop, but that's your own preference. 

This is also the point when you will want to add some seasonings and/or flavors. During this go around I was making cinnamon applesauce and added 2 tbsp of cinnamon. 

Replace your crock pot lid and let it cook for another 2 hours. 

This is how my applesauce looked after cooking for 8 hours. My kids don't mind having a little bit of chunks in their applesauce, but if your family tends to be a little more picky with that, you just need to mash it up more. 

The liquid content at this point can also vary depending on the type of apples you use. Some have a higher sugar content than others so of you find your batch needs more liquid you can just add a little water or even apple juice from your fridge. 

Once you get it to the consistency you like, pour it into clean pint sized canning jars and process in a cold pack canner for 20-25 min per batch. 

And that's it!  Homemade applesauce with very little effort on your part. If you find an easier way to prep the apples if live to hear it!

Otherwise this is the easiest way that works for me.  Hopefully it can do the same for you.